HIV infection, bone metabolism, and fractures.

With the advent of high active antiretroviral therapy there was a significant improvement on HIV subjects survival. Thus, bone changes related to HIV became an important aspect of these individuals. HIV affects bone remodeling causing bone fragility. In addition, antiretroviral therapy may also negatively affect bone metabolism. Several studies describe an increased incidence of fractures in these patients when compared with controls without the disease. The European Society of AIDS (EACS), and other societies, have included guidance on management of osteoporosis in HIV-infected patients emphasizing the identification of patients with low bone mass. Supplementation of calcium and vitamin D and the use of alendronate in these individuals should be recommended on a case base.

HIV infection, bone metabolism, and fractures / Infecção pelo HIV, o metabolismo ósseo e fraturas

With the advent of high active antiretroviral therapy there was a significant improvement on HIV subjects survival. Thus, bone changes related to HIV became an important aspect of these individuals. HIV affects bone remodeling causing bone fragility. In addition, antiretroviral therapy may also negatively affect bone metabolism. Several studies describe an increased incidence of fractures in these patients when compared with controls without the disease. The European Society of AIDS (EACS), and other societies, have included guidance on management of osteoporosis in HIV-infected patients emphasizing the identification of patients with low bone mass. Supplementation of calcium and vitamin D and the use of alendronate in these individuals should be recommended on a case base.

Com o advento da terapia antirretroviral, houve uma melhora considerável na sobrevida dos indivíduos portadores do vírus HIV. Dessa forma, as alterações ósseas referentes ao HIV se tornaram um fator importante no cuidado desses indivíduos. O HIV altera o remodelamento ósseo causando fragilidade óssea. As alterações causadas por esse vírus nos linfócitos T afetam a produção de RANKL e de citocinas pró-inflamatórias levando à osteoclastogênese. Ademais, a terapia antirretroviral também pode afetar negativamente o metabolismo ósseo. Vários estudos descrevem aumento da incidência de fraturas nesses indivíduos quando comparados a controles sem a doença. Diretrizes da Sociedade Europeia de SIDA (EACS) têm orientado o manejo da osteoporose nesses sujeitos, enfatizando a identificação de pacientes com baixa massa óssea. A suplementação de cálcio e vitamina D e o uso de alendronato nesses indivíduos devem ser recomendados caso a caso.

Osteoporosis and multiple fractures in an antiretroviral-naive, HIV-positive child.

As a result of the increased incidence of osteopenia and osteoporosis in HIV-infected patients, numerous publications have suggested that there may be a link between bone metabolism alterations and HIV infection. The early bone loss seen in these patients was initially attributed to the use of highly active antiretroviral treatment (HAART) that included protease inhibitors. Recent studies, however, have suggested that it may be a direct consequence of the viral infection on bone metabolism, persistent activation of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNFa), or altered vitamin D metabolism secondary to the virus, combined with subsequent factors (e.g., antiretroviral treatment) that aggravate the bone demineralization. We present an antiretroviral-naive 6-year-old girl with vertically transmitted HIV infection who presented with severe osteoporosis and multiple pathological fractures of the vertebrae, ribs, and upper and lower limbs. The child was treated with HAART, appropriate nutritional support for her age, physiotherapy and rehabilitation, calcium and vitamin D supplements, and alendronate therapy. After 6 weeks of treatment, the intense pain and muscle atrophy had disappeared and she was able to walk unassisted. At 6 months, bone mass had increased by 72%. The interest of this case lies in the presence of severe osteoporosis and multiple pathological fractures in an HIVinfected naive child. To date, this condition has only been described in patients treated with antiretrovirals. Moreover, this is the first reported HIV-positive pediatric patient treated with bisphosphonates, which proved to be highly successful.